Clarksville to unveil new sculpture at 9/11 ceremony

This memorial to fallen Clarksville firefighters was sculpted by Scott Wise. The Clarksville firefighter sculpted another one dedicated to all fallen firefighters that will be unveiled at a 9/11 ceremony Friday.(Photo: THE LEAF-CHRONICLE/STEPHANIE INGERSOLL)Buy Photo

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — For more than a decade, a statue to fallen firefighters has stood sentry outside Fire Station 1 on Main Street to honor the 343 firefighters who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and all the other firefighters who risk their lives to save others.

This year a new bronze firefighter will take over that duty when the city unveils a new sculpture made by Clarksville Fire Rescue firefighter and renowned sculptor Scott Wise on Friday.

The new statue will be unveiled at a 9/11 memorial ceremony outside the main fire station at 6 p.m.

Retired Clarksville firefighter Capt. Danny Perry spent about a year raising funds from private donations to pay for the new monument, and Wise, an engineer who drives a firetruck, sculpted the life-size firefighter to honor those who died not only in the terrorist attacks of 9/11 but all firefighters who die on the job.

Three firefighters have died on duty in Clarksville.

Lt. Claude Walker had a heart attack at the scene of a fire in 1960 and died a short time later.

Capt. George Wilson died in a wreck on his way to a fire in 1967.

Engineer Ray Harrison died in a truck accident while he was on a fire scene in 1981.

While the dangers of battling blazes are obvious, it doesn't take a collapsing roof or floor to take a firefighter's life. Every time firefighters rush to an emergency call, the dangers of accidents are real, said Clarksville Fire Marshal Ray Williams. While the three Clarksville firefighters and their families will be recognized at the event, many civilians whom no one in Clarksville ever met will be recognized, too.

"It's also to honor the 343 firefighters who lost their lives and the civilians who lost their lives for no reason" in 9/11, Williams said.

The older statue to fallen firefighters has been moved to the Clarksville fire prevention office on Franklin Street.(Photo: THE LEAF-CHRONICLE/STEPHANIE INGERSOLL)

The event, at 802 Main St., is open to the public.

The older statue may have moved but was not retired. That statue now stands around the corner at the fire prevention office at 831 Franklin St.

Scott Wise also has a smaller sculpture outside Fire Station 1. The bronze boot and hat sculpture honors the three Clarksville firefighters who died in the line of duty and stands in front of the large bell between two flagpoles where the new sculpture will be placed.

Eighth Street will be blocked from Main Street to Franklin Street for a while before, during and after the ceremony Friday.